Software Inventory Report

The _linkfor_ syntax only works if you use the query inside a resource they call a "Custom Query", you can add that resource to views or to reports but it doesn't show up on the initial screen of resources for reports, you have to search for it.

As far as the additional columns, whenever you write a report using custom queries you have to specify the columns you want to include, and you have to get their exact names within the database correct.  You can find those names by browsing around with SWQL studio Releases · solarwinds/OrionSDK · GitHub and you won't get far in SWQL without installing that to see how things are laid out to query.

In this case though, I wrote the report to match what you described initally about having a summary that he could drill down into any particular node by clicking the link.  To modify it you could take the existing report and add additional columns from the assetinventory.software table, you can see an screenshot below of how I'd use SWQL Studio and the autocomplete feature it has to find the name of the column I need.

So, using those tools this is what I would probably do to expand on this kind of resource in my environment and get the most from it:

Set him up a dashboard and add a custom query resource to it. In the first box paste in the first query I have below.  Then check the box for enable search and paste the second query from this post into that.  Change the number of rows per page to something like 25 or maybe even something really high so you can just scroll through the list without having to hit next page so much.  This gives you a resource that initially just lists out all the  nodes with software inventory and if he wants he can click them and it takes you to the built in software inventory resource,  and he has the option to search the inventories of everything for matches against the node captions and the software names/publishers/versions.

--First box

select distinct n.Caption, n.Vendor, n.MachineType

, concat('/Orion/DetachResource.aspx?ResourceID=',(SELECT TOP 1ResourceID FROM Orion.Resources where ResourceTitle ='software inventory'),'&NetObject=N:',n.nodeid) as [_linkfor_Caption]

from orion.Nodes n

where n.AssetInventory.Software.Name is not null

--Search box

select distinct n.Caption, n.Vendor, n.MachineType

,n.AssetInventory.Software.Name

,n.AssetInventory.Software.Publisher

,n.AssetInventory.Software.Version

from orion.Nodes n

where n.AssetInventory.Software.Name is not null

and (n.caption like '%${SEARCH_STRING}%' or n.AssetInventory.Software.name like '%${SEARCH_STRING}%' or n.AssetInventory.Software.publisher like '%${SEARCH_STRING}%' or n.AssetInventory.Software.version like '%${SEARCH_STRING}%')

Order by n.caption

Initial view:

And with a search in effect:

-Marc Netterfield

    Loop1 Systems: SolarWinds Training and Professional Services

•                 LinkedIN: Loop1 Systems
•                 Facebook: Loop1 Systems
•                 Twitter: @Loop1Systems